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Campus Location
Deciding Where Your Child Will Live and Learn
Location can have a huge impact on your child’s choice of a college and experience there. Students may be drawn to the excitement of a big city, the serenity of a small town a combination of both. Your child may want to stay in a familiar place close to home, or branch out and experience a new part of the country.
Adjusting to a New Environment
College is all about new experiences, even ones that students don’t seek out. Whether near home or far away, your child will face unfamiliar situations and meet different people. Some students relish the challenge and choose to throw themselves yourself into a completely different environment. Others prefer to ease their way in slowly. Your child should decide how much change is comfortable, and consider how a college’s locale will affect that.
Knowing What to Expect
Help your child learn what to expect from a college's setting before making a final decision. For example, if your child lives in Los Angeles and is considering a college in a rural area of Montana, talk about how different the lifestyle under the Big Sky will be from that in the big city.
To get an accurate picture, your child should visit campuses, talk to students and read campus and local newspapers.
Considering Other Factors
Keep in mind that however significant, a college's location is only one of many college characteristics your child needs to consider. Other factors are the majors offered, college size, financial aid available and most importantly, whether the college is a good fit overall.
If your child thinks a campus setting won’t offer a large enough range of experiences, consider this: Many colleges offer an option to study abroad or off-campus for a semester or a year, or have cross-registration or exchange programs with other colleges.
Exploring Choices
Read more about urban, suburban and rural college campus life.
Finding Colleges
Use College Search to find colleges that match your child’s needs and preferences.
Browse colleges with our College A-to-Z listings or search for Colleges State-by-State.
